After investigating a threat that forced schools in Tamaqua to lockdown late this morning, police determined this afternoon there was no threat and all schools can return to normal activities.

All Tamaqua area schools, including St. Jerome Regional School and Marian Catholic High School in Hometown, were on lockdown starting at approximately 11 a.m. for “an unverified threat.”

According to John Matz, coordinator of Schuylkill County Emergency Management, a non-specific threat was received at the Schuylkill County 911 Communications Center this morning that may have indicated that Tamaqua was the intended location.

Information was immediately relayed to the Tamaqua Police, Tamaqua School District, LCCC – Tamaqua Campus, Marian High School and Saint Jerome’s Regional School and all went into a precautionary condition while police investigated.

“Unfortunately, an alert message sent by a post-secondary school may have given the impression that a more serious incident was taking place,” Matz said in a release.

“This incorrect information quickly spread across the area and caused understandable concern by parents and family members.”

Movement was restricted to and from buildings during the lockdown.

Tamaqua canceled afternoon kindergarten for both Tamaqua Elementary and West Penn Elementary, as well as canceled the SHINE program for tonight.

In addition, LCCC’s Morgan and Scheller campuses were closed to students.

All after-school activities in the Tamaqua School District were canceled with the exception of cross country, which was competing in the Schuylkill League Championships today.

At 1:30 p.m., Matz sent out an update, stating that Officer Harig of Tamaqua police “has completed the investigation and found no credible threat.”

All schools in the area then resumed normal routine.

No further information will be disseminated, Matz said.